She did not finish, for Eve was speaking.
"We were just thinking of you, Olivia."
"How very nice of you! May I come?"
She advanced—still with that diffident and hesitating step like a doe's. I got up and offered her my stone.
Olivia looked startled; but Olivia had a way of looking startled, so it seemed.
"Oh," she protested, "oh, I don't want to take your seat."
"Don't feel that you are putting me to an inconvenience," I said. "That stone is harder than it was. I am sorry that we can offer you nothing better than a stone, but it is all we have."
And Olivia laughed politely, and took my stone, and looked about.
"Clams!" she cried. "I have dug clams."
"Many?" I asked.